Image generating system and program

ABSTRACT

There are provided an image generating system and program which can generate an image of an object variable in its state depending on an impacted position, in real-time with less amount of data and reduced load in computation. The image generating system generates an image of an aggregate object formed by a plurality of part objects. The image generating system comprises: an object determination section ( 120 ) which determines part objects within a predetermined area in the aggregate object as objects to be changed in display form when an impact is applied to the aggregate object and the impacted position is included within the predetermined area; and an image generation section ( 160 ) which changes at least one of shape, color, position, rotation angle, direction, moving direction and moving speed of the part objects determined as objects to be changed and generates an image. The aggregate object may be formed by assembling a plurality of part objects having different shapes without any gaps. The image of the aggregate object may be generated as an image of a single object before the impact is applied thereto and as an image of an aggregate object after the impact.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image generating system and program.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known an image generating system which can generate an image asviewed within a virtual three-dimensional or object space from a givenviewpoint. Such a system is very popular since one can experience aso-called virtual reality through it. Now considering a image generatingsystem for playing a gun game, a player (or operator) can enjoy athree-dimensional shooting game by manipulating a gun-shaped controller(or shooting device) to shot targets such as enemy characters (or modelobjects) and the like which are displayed on a screen.

In order to improve the virtual reality for a player in such an imagegenerating system, it was an important technical problem to produce morerealistic images. It is thus desired that when, for example, a glassplate is broken by impact such as a bullet, the broken glass may morerealistically be represented.

In the conventional image generating systems, however, when a bullet hashit a glass plate, the image is simply replaced by an image representingthe broken glass plate which was previously provided. Independent of thehit position or the power of a bullet, the same image of a broken glassplate is shown. The representation is monotonic and lacks in reality.

According to such a technique, once a glass plate was broken by a firstbullet, the image will not change even if the glass plate is hit by thesucceeding bullets. Consequently, the representation was insufficientwhen it is possible that the glass plate is hit by many bullets inhigh-speed continuous shooting.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an imagegenerating system and program which can generate an image of objectsvariable in their states depending on an impacted position, in real-timewith less amount of data and reduced load in computation.

(1) The present invention provides an image generating system whichgenerates an image of an aggregate object formed by a plurality of partobjects, the system comprising: object determination means whichdetermines part objects within a predetermined area in the aggregateobject as objects to be changed in display form when an impact isapplied to the aggregate object and the impacted position is includedwithin the predetermined area; and image generation means which changesat least one of shape, color, position, rotation angle, direction,moving direction and moving speed of the part objects determined asobjects to be changed and generates an image.

The present invention also provides a computer-readable program embodiedon information storage medium or in a carrier wave, comprisinginformation (or program) for implementing (or executing) theabove-described means. The computer-readable program according to thepresent invention also comprises a processing routine for implementing(or executing) the means.

The predetermined area containing the impacted position may be an areaspaced apart from the impacted position in all the directions by aconstant distance, or an area containing the impacted position andspaced upward or downward from the impacted position. These areas may bedetermined depending on the type of the aggregate object to berepresented, the breaking manner due to the impact and so on.

According to the present invention, at least one of shape, color,position, rotation angle, direction, moving direction and moving speedof the part objects within a given area containing the impacted positionis changed to generate an image. Thus, an image of an object whichchanges according to the impacted position can more realistically berepresented.

(2) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, an area in which the display form of the part objects ischanged may be determined in accordance with at least one of themagnitude of the impact, the direction of the impact and the type of theaggregate object.

In such a manner, an image of an object which changes in accordance withthe magnitude of the impact, the direction of the impact, the type ofthe aggregate object and so on can be represented. For example, astronger impact may provide a larger area in which the display form ofthe part objects is changed.

(3) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, an area in which the display form is changed may be randomlydetermined.

In this case, the shape or dimensions of the area in which the displayform is changed may be computed in real-time or the area may be selectedfrom among a plurality of previously provided candidates. Thus, thechange due to impact will not be monotonic.

(4) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, the display form of the part objects which are spaced moreapart from the impacted position may be changed with more delay.

According to the present invention, an image can be generated in whichthe things surrounding the impacted position are changed in series.

(5) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, the part objects which have already been changed to a firstdisplay form may be changed into a second display form after a giventime period has elapsed.

According to the present invention, an image which is necessarilychanged after a predetermined time period can be generated.

For example, if a dish falls from a shelf and breaks on a floor due toan impact, time counted from the fall to the impact can be computed. Insuch a case, the image can be changed from the first state representingthe falling dish into the second state representing the dish breaking onthe floor due to the impact after a given time has elapsed from thefirst state.

(6) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, a plurality of image patterns used to generate images of thepart objects after the change by the impact may be previously provided;and the images of the part objects after the change by the impact may begenerated based on an image pattern selected from the plurality of imagepatterns.

Such a selection may be made at random or according to a predeterminedcondition.

If a plurality of image patterns are previously provided, morecomplicated change can be provided.

If an image pattern can be selected from among a plurality of imagepatterns representing various break states, the representation of thebreak can be made more realistically without monotony.

(7) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, the aggregate object may be formed by assembling the partobjects having different shapes without any gaps.

For example, if a plurality of part objects having different shapes areassembled without any gaps to form a single flat surface, an aggregateobject representing a glass plate, a wall or the like can be formed.

By assembling the plurality of part objects having different shapes, thebreaking manner of an aggregate object due to an impact can be preventedfrom being monotonic.

If the outlines of the part objects are made irregular and complicated,jagged edges can be represented.

(8) In the image generating system or the program embodied on aninformation storage medium or in a carrier wave according to the presentinvention, an image of the aggregate object may be generated as an imageof a single object before the impact is applied to the aggregate object,and the image may be generated as an image of the aggregate objectformed by the plurality of part objects after the impact.

According to the present invention, the load on the image processing canbe relieved since the image is generated as a single object prior to theapplication of the impact. Thus, the image can be generated moreeffectively by using the single and aggregate objects properly, ifrequired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the appearance of an arcade game systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image generating system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a game image in one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another game image in one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a glass plate object to be broken into piecesin one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the impacted position and the break area.

FIG. 7 illustrates break patterns of the part objects representing theglass pieces.

FIG. 8 illustrates the transit of the image showing a glass piece whichis broken into smaller pieces

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate the embodiment in which the glassplate formed by the part objects spaced more apart from the impactedposition is broken with more delay.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C illustrate the progress of breaking of the glassplate.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another operation in the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating still another operation in theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a configuration of hardware for implementing theembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate various forms of the game system accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the drawings. Although the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described as to a gun game (or shooting game) using agun-like controller, the present invention is not limited to such a formbut may be applied to any of various other forms.

1. Layout

FIG. 1 shows the layout of an arcade game system to which the presentinvention is applied.

A player 500 holds a gun-shaped controller (or a shooting device in abroad sense) 502 which is formed similar to a real machine gun. Theplayer 500 can enjoy the gun game by using the gun-shaped controller 500to shot targets such as enemy characters (or model objects in a broadsense) which are displayed on a screen 504.

When the gun-shaped controller 502 is triggered, virtual shots such asbullets or the like will be fanned at high speed. Thus, the player canfeel the virtual reality as if he or she is shooting the real machinegun.

A hit position of a shot (or bullet) may be sensed by using aphoto-sensor on the gun-shaped controller 502 to sense a scanning ray onthe screen or by using a light (or laser) beam emitted from thegun-shaped controller 502 to impinge against a target position which isin turn sensed by any suitable means such as CCD camera.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of this embodiment. In this figure, thisembodiment may comprise at least a processing section 100 or aprocessing section 100 with a storage section 140 or a processingsection 100 with a storage section 140 and an information storage medium150. Each of the other blocks (e.g., operating section 130, imagegeneration section 160, display section 162, sound generation section170, sound output section 172, communication section 174, I/F section176, memory card 180 and so on) may take any suitable form.

The processing section 100 is designed to perform various processingsfor control of the entire system, commands to the respective blocks inthe system, game computation and so on. The function thereof may beimplemented through any suitable hardware means such as CPU (CISC type,RISC type), DSP or ASIC (or gate array or the like) or a given program(or game program).

The operating section 130 is used to input operational data from theplayer and the function thereof may be implemented through any suitablehardware means such as the gun-shaped controller 502 of FIG. 1, a lever,a button, a housing or the like.

The storage section 140 provides a working area for the processingsection 100, image generation section 160, sound generation section 170,communication section 174, I/F section 176 and others. The functionthereof may be implemented by any suitable hardware means such as RAM orthe like.

The information storage medium (which may be a computer utilizationstorage medium) 150 is designed to store information including programs,data and others. The function thereof may be implemented through anysuitable hardware means such as optical memory disk (CD or DVD),magneto-optical disk (MO), magnetic disk, hard disk, magnetic tape,semiconductor memory (ROM) or the like. The processing section 100performs various processings in the present invention (or thisembodiment) based on the information that has been stored in thisinformation storage medium 150. In other words, the information storagemedium 150 stores various pieces of information (or programs and data)for implementing (or executing) the means of the present invention (orthis embodiment) which is particularly represented by the block includedin the processing section 100.

Part or the whole of the information stored in the information storagemedium 150 will be transferred to the storage section 140 when thesystem is initially powered on. The information stored in theinformation storage medium 150 may contain at least one of program codeset for processing the present invention, image information, soundinformation, shape information of objects to be displayed, table data,list data, player information, command information for the processingsin the present invention, information for performing the processingsaccording to the commands and so on.

The image generation section 160 is designed to generate and outputvarious images toward the display section 162 according to instructionsfrom the processing section 100. The function thereof may be implementedthrough any suitable hardware means such as image generating ASIC, CPUor DSP or according to a given program (or image generating program) orbased on image information.

The sound generation section 170 is designed to generate and outputvarious sounds toward the sound output section 172 according toinstructions from the processing section 100. The function thereof maybe implemented through any suitable hardware means such as soundgenerating ASIC, CPU or DSP or according to a given program (or soundgenerating program) or based on sound information (waveform data and thelike).

The communication section 174 is designed to perform various controlsfor communication between the game system and any external device (e.g.,host machine or other image generating system). The function thereof maybe implemented through any suitable hardware means such as communicationASIS or CPU or according to a given program (or communication program).

Information for implementing the processings in the present invention(or this embodiment) may be delivered from an information storage mediumincluded in a host machine (or server) to the information storage medium150 through a network and the communication section 174. The use of suchan information storage medium in the hose device (or server) fallswithin the scope of the invention.

Part or the whole of the function in the processing section 100 may beimplemented through the function of the image generation section 160,sound generation section 170 or communication section 174.Alternatively, part or the whole of the function in the image generationsection 160, sound generation section 170 or communication section 174may be implemented through the function of the processing section 100.

The I/F section 176 serves as an interface for information interchangebetween the game system and a memory card (or a portable informationstorage device including a portable game machine in a broad sense) 180according to instructions from the processing section 100. The functionthereof may be implemented through a slot into which the memory card isinserted, a data write/read controller IC or the like. If theinformation interchange between the game system and the memory card 180is to be implemented in a wireless manner (e.g., through infra-redcommunication), the function of the I/F section 176 may be implementedthrough any suitable hardware means such as semiconductor laser,infra-red sensor or the like.

The processing section 100 further comprises a game computation section110.

The game computation section 110 is designed to perform variousprocesses such as coin (or charge) reception, setting of various modes,game proceeding, setting of image selection, determination of theposition and rotation angle (about X-, Y- or Z-axis) of an object,determination of the view point and visual line (direction),regeneration (or generation) of the motion, arrangement of the objectwithin the object space, hit checking, computation of the game results(or scores), processing for causing a plurality of players to play in acommon game space, various game computations including game-over andother processes, based on operational data from the operating section130 and according to the data and game program from the memory card 180.

The game computation section 110 includes an object determinationsection 120.

The object determination section 120 determines part objects within agiven area containing the impacted position as objects to be changed indisplay form when an impact has been applied to an aggregate object.

The image generating section 160 performs the generation of image whilevarying at least one of the shape, color, position, rotation angle,direction, moving direction and moving speed of the part objects whichhave been determined to be objects to be changed.

The object determination section 120 may determine the area in which thedisplay form of the part objects is changed, based on at least one ofthe magnitude of the impact, the direction of the impact and the type ofaggregate object.

Furthermore, the object determination section 120 may determine the areain which the display form of the part objects is changed, under somepredetermined conditions.

Moreover, the object determination section 120 may determine a partobject spaced more apart from the impacted position as an object to bechanged with more delay.

Still furthermore, the object determination section 120 may determine apart object already changed to the first display form as an object to bechanged to the second display form after a given time period haselapsed.

The image generating section 160 may provide a plurality of imagepatterns used to generate the images of part objects changed due toimpact and generate such images based on a given image pattern selectedfrom the plurality of image patterns.

The image generating section 160 may form an aggregate object byassembling part objects having various different shapes without anyclearance.

The image generating section 160 may perform the generation of image asa single object before an impact is applied to the aggregate object andas an aggregate object consisting of a plurality of part objects afterthe impact has been applied to the single object.

The image generating system of the present invention may be dedicatedfor a single-player mode in which only a single player can play the gameor may have a multi-player mode in which a plurality of players can playthe game.

If a plurality of players play the game, only a single terminal may beused to generate game images and sounds to be provided to all theplayers. Alternatively, a plurality of terminals interconnected througha network (transmission line or communication line) may be used in thepresent invention.

2. Features and Operations in the Present Invention

The features and operations of the present invention will be describedwith reference to when a glass plate is broken into pieces by a bullet.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show game images in this embodiment. The glass plate 300of FIG. 3 is an object to be broken into pieces by a bullet in thisembodiment. FIG. 4 shows the glass plate 300 including a hit position310 and its surrounding part broken into pieces.

In such a manner, the glass plate will be broken into pieces within apredetermined area 320 containing the hit position 310. Unlike theconventional game image which had been broken into pieces in the samemanner independent of the hit position, the present invention cangenerate a more realistic game image in which a glass plate is brokeninto pieces in accordance with the hit position.

An example of a process for generating such images as shown in FIGS. 3and 4 according to the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an object of glass plate which will be brokeninto pieces according to the present invention.

An object of glass plate 400 has previously been divided into partobjects representing fine glass pieces as shown by 410, 420, 430 in FIG.5A. These part objects are assembled without clearance to represent asingle glass plate.

It is preferred that a single object of glass plate is formed prior toreception of impact while this object is divided into part objects afterimpact. Thus, the load in computation can be reduced by generating theimage of a single object prior to impact, resulting in efficientgeneration of image.

FIG. 5B illustrates the types of the part objects of glass pieces. Inthis form, three types of different part objects representing glasspieces as shown by 410, 420, 430 may be used to form an aggregate objectof glass plate 400. Each of the part objects representing the glasspieces 410, 420, 430 is formed by a plurality of polygon faces. Forexample, one of the part objects 410 may be formed by polygon faces410-1, 410-2, 410-3, 410-4 and 410-5.

Such an assembly of different glass pieces can provide an image ofbreaking glass in more complicated manner.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an impacted position and a break area.

If a bullet has hit the glass plate at 450 in FIG. 6A, all the glasspieces or part objects existing within a predetermined area 460containing the hit position will be changed in the display form.

These glass pieces or part objects are changed into image patterns(which will be referred to “break patterns”) representing the brokenglass.

FIG. 7 illustrates break patterns of part objects for glass pieces. Whena bullet hits the glass plate, the display forms for the glass pieces orpart objects to be changed is shifted into break patterns. For example,a glass piece 410 may be changed to a break pattern 412; another glasspiece 420 to another break pattern 422; and still another glass piece430 to still another break pattern 432.

These break patterns will be moved downwardly as the frame progresses.

FIG. 8 shows the transit of the image showing a glass piece which isbroken into smaller pieces.

Part objects of the glass piece before the break are as shown by animage 710. This is the glass piece in normal condition. This imagecorresponds to each glass piece shown in FIG. 5A which is placed at apredetermined normal position.

FIG. 8 shows break patterns 720–740 for glass pieces, in which the glasspieces move downwardly toward the ground 750 through passage of time asshown by 720, 730 and 740. In this case, the portion of the glass platein which the glass pieces have been present is displayed such that theyare removed from the glass plate, leaving a hole therein, as shown by470 in FIG. 6B.

The glass pieces may be broken in series, rather than all the glasspieces are broken at a time, such that a glass piece more spaced apartfrom the impacted position will be broken with more delay.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate the embodiment in which the glasspiece formed by the part objects spaced more apart from the impactedposition is broken with more delay.

If it is assumed that the impacted position is at 480 in FIG. 9A, theglass plate is broken into a glass piece or part object 490 which existsin a first change area (L1) nearest the impacted position 480immediately after the impact has been applied to the glass plate. FIG.9B shows a hole 492 formed in the glass plate by removing the glasspiece 490 therefrom.

Next, the glass plate is broken, with a delay corresponding to a fewframes, into glass pieces which exist in a second change area (L2) 500secondly nearer the impacted position 480. FIG. 9C shows a hole 502formed in the glass plate by removing these glass pieces therefrom.

Subsequently, the glass plate is broken, with a delay corresponding to afew frames, into glass pieces which exist in a third change area (L3)510 thirdly nearer the impacted position 480. FIG. 9D shows a hole 512formed in the glass plate by removing these glass pieces therefrom.

The part object belonging to each of the change areas may be determineddepending on the distance from the impacted position. The distance fromthe impacted position to each of the glass pieces (GLn) is computedbased on the coordinates of each corresponding part object. If GLn<L1,the glass plate will be broken into glass pieces at the first timing. IfL1<GLn<L2, the glass plate will be broken into glass pieces at thesecond timing. If L2<GLn<L3, the glass plate will be broken into glasspieces at the next timing. In such a manner, the glass plate can berepresented such that it begins to be broken from around the impactedposition with the break propagating the surrounding glass pieces.

The magnitude, shape and the like within the break area may bedetermined in real-time depending on the magnitude of impact, thedirection of impact, the type of aggregate object and so on. Whether theglass plate is broken at once or gradually may be determined accordingto the magnitude of impact, the direction of impact, the type ofaggregate object and so on.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C illustrate the other manner of break. Forexample, if a bullet hits the glass plate at a position near 510 in FIG.10A, a glass piece or part object in the position 510 is first removedand the image of the corresponding break pattern is generated. With adelay corresponding to a few frames, glass pieces or part objects512–524 located upward of the position 510 are then removed (see FIG.10B) and the image of the corresponding break pattern is generated. Witha further delay corresponding to a few frames, glass pieces or partobjects located upward of the removed glass pieces or part objects areremoved (see FIG. 10C) and the corresponding break pattern is generated.

In such a manner, the glass piece near the hit position will first bebroken and the other glass pieces upward of the first broken glass piecewill sequentially be broken with various delays each corresponding tothe several frames.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are flowcharts illustrating various operations in oneembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the imagesrepresenting the glass plate before and after broken are generated foreach frame in the following manner.

In the present invention, a hit flag is used to represent the presentstate of an object such as a glass plate which can be divided andprocessed into part objects when it receives an impact. Such a hit flagis set at ‘0’ before the hit; ‘1’ immediately after the hit; ‘2’ duringthe delay processing after the hit processing; and ‘3’, when all thechanges due to the hit are completed.

When a bullet hits the glass plate anywhere, the hit flag is set at ‘1’(steps S10 and S20). In this case, if that hit is the first hit, the hitflag will be changed from ‘0’ to ‘1’. If the hit is done by thesucceeding bullet after the first hit, the hit flag will be changed from‘3’ to ‘1’.

If the hit flag is ‘0’, the glass plate is imaged as a single object(steps S30 and S40). This can relieve the load on the image processingsince the glass plate is not still broken.

If the hit flag is any value other than ‘0’, the glass plate is formedas an aggregate object consisting of a plurality of glass pieces or partobjects (steps S30 and s50).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the image generatingprocess for the aggregate object in the step S50 of FIG. 11.

At first, it is determined whether or not all the changes due to the hithave been completed or whether or not the hit flag is ‘3’ (step S110).If the hit flag is ‘3’, it is judged that any new part object to bechanged is not present since the display form for each part object isnot variable from the previous frame. Therefore, a group of processingsteps S120–S170 for detecting any new object to be changed is omitted.

If the hit flag is not ‘3’, it is then judged whether or not there is aframe immediately after the hit or whether or not the hit flag is ‘1’(step S120). If the hit flag is ‘1’, the state flag of each of the partobjects belonging to the first change area in which they will be brokenimmediately after the hit is set at ‘1’ (step S130).

Thereafter, the hit flag of the aggregate object in question is set at‘2’ (step S140).

The state flag is provided for each of the part objects forming theaggregate object and has stored the value representing the state of eachpart object. If the state flag of one part object is ‘0’, it representsthat that part object is a glass piece having its normal state. If thestate flag is ‘1’, it represents one glass piece from the broken glassplate. If the state flag is ‘3’, it represents that the glass plate hasbeen broken into glass pieces.

When the hit flag is not ‘1’, if it is required to perform such a delayprocessing as described in connection with FIGS. 9A–9D, the state flagof the part objects within an area in which the delay processing isperformed is set at ‘1’ (steps S150 and S160).

When it is required to perform the delay processing, the number offrames to be delayed may be previously determined. The delay processingmay be performed after the condition is satisfied.

If the hit flag is not ‘3’, the display form for the part objects willbe changed (step S170).

Thereafter, the image of the aggregate object is generated after thedisplay form for each of the part objects has been determined based onthe state flag and coordinates of that part object (step S180).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the process ofchanging the display form for the part object at the step S170 in FIG.12.

All the steps S210–S250 for all the part objects forming the aggregateobject are performed.

If the state flag for each of the part objects is ‘1’, this representsthe break of the glass plate. Thus, the coordinates of its break patternwill be computed (step S220). The coordinates of the break pattern maybe computed based on the coordinates and falling speed of the partobject in question in the previous frame, for example.

It is then judged from the position coordinates so determined whether ornot the break pattern reaches the floor (step S230). Since the change isterminated when the break pattern reaches the floor in this embodiment,the state flag of the part object is set at ‘2’ if the determinedcoordinates indicate the reaching of the break pattern to the floor(step S240).

If all the steps S210–S240 are completed for all the part objectsforming the aggregate object, it is judged whether or not any partobject having its state flag of ‘1’ exists in the part objects formingthe aggregate object (step S260).

If there is no part object having its state flag of ‘1’, this indicatesthat all the changes due to the hit are terminated. Thus, the hit flagof the aggregate object is set at ‘3’ (step S280).

3. Hardware Arrangement

One hardware arrangement capable of implementing this embodiment willnow be described with reference to FIG. 27. The system shown in FIG. 27comprises CPU 1000, ROM 1002, RAM 1004, an information storage medium1006, a sound generation IC 1008, an image generation IC 1010 and I/Oports 1012, 1014, all of which are interconnected through a system bus1016 for data reception and transmission. The image generation IC 1010is connected to a display 1018; the sound generation IC 1008 to aspeaker 1020; the I/O port 1012 to a control device 1022; and the I/Oport 1014 to a communication device 1024.

The information storage medium 1006 has mainly stored a program, imagedata for representing objects, sound data and others. For example, ahome game apparatus may use DVD, game cassette, CD-ROM or the like as aninformation storage medium for storing the game program and other data.An arcade game apparatus may use a memory such as ROM or the like. Inthe latter case, the information storage medium 1006 is in the form ofROM 1002.

The control device 1022 corresponds to a game controller, control panelor the like. The control device 1022 is used by the player for inputtinghis or her judgment into the game system according to the progress ofgame.

CPU 1000 is to perform the control of the entire game system and theprocessing of various data according to the program stored in theinformation storage medium 1006, the system program (such as informationfor initializing the entire system) stored in the ROM 1002, inputsignals from the control device 1022 and so on. RAM 1004 is a memorymeans used as a working area for the CPU 1000 and has stored givencontents in the information storage medium 1006 and ROM 1002 or theresults of computation in the CPU 1000. The structures of data having alogical structure for implementing this embodiment may be build on thisRAM or information storage medium.

The sound and image generation IC's 1008, 1010 in this game system areto output game sounds and images in a preferred manner. The soundgeneration IC 1008 is in the form of an integrated circuit forgenerating game sounds such as sound effects, background music andothers, based on the information stored in the information storagemedium 1006 and ROM 1002, the generated sounds being then outputtedthrough the speaker 1020. The image generation IC 1010 is in the form ofan integrated circuit which can generate pixel information to beoutputted toward the display 1018 based on the image information fromthe RAM 1004, ROM 1002, information storage medium 1006 and so on. Thedisplay 1018 may be in the form of a so-called head mount display (HMD).

The communication device 1024 is to receive and transmit various piecesof information which are utilized in the game apparatus from and toexternal. The communication device 1024 is connected to the other gamesystem (or systems) to transmit and receive given informationcorresponding to the game program from and to the other game systems orutilized to transmit and receive the information including the gameprogram and other data through the communication line.

Various processing steps previously described in connection with FIGS. 1to 26 are implemented by the information storage medium 1006 stored theinformation such as program, data and so on, and CPU 1000, imagegeneration IC 1010 and sound generation IC 1008 which operate based onthe information from the information storage medium 1006. Theprocessings in the image generation IC 1010 and sound generation IC 1008may be performed in a software manner through the CPU 1000 orall-purpose DSP.

When this embodiment is applied to such an arcade game system as shownin FIG. 1, a system board (or circuit board) 1106 included in the gamesystem comprises CPU, image generating IC, sound generating IC andothers all of which are mounted therein. The system board 1106 includesan information storage medium or semiconductor memory 1108 which hasstored information for executing (or implementing) the processings ofthis embodiment (or means of the present invention). These pieces ofinformation will be referred to “the stored information pieces”.

FIG. 15A shows a home game apparatus to which this embodiment isapplied. A player enjoys a game by manipulating game controllers 1202and 1204 while viewing a game image displayed on a display 1200. In sucha case, the aforementioned stored information pieces have been stored inDVD 1206 and memory cards 1208, 1209 which are detachable informationstorage media in the game system body.

FIG. 15B shows an example wherein this embodiment is applied to a gamesystem which includes a host machine 1300 and terminals 1304-1 to 1304-nconnected to the host machine 1300 through a communication line (whichis a small-scale network such as LAN or a global network such asINTERNET) 1302. In such a case, the above stored information pieces havebeen stored in an information storage medium 1306 such as magnetic diskdevice, magnetic tape device, semiconductor memory or the like which canbe controlled by the host machine 1300, for example. If the terminals1304-1 to 1304-n are designed each to have a CPU, image generating ICand sound processing IC and to generate game images and game sounds in astand-alone manner, the host machine 1300 delivers game program andother data for generating game images and game sounds to the terminals1304-1 to 1304-n. On the other hand, if the game images and soundscannot be generated by the terminals in the stand-alone manner, the hostmachine 1300 will generate the game images and sounds which are in turntransmitted to the terminals 1304-1 to 1304-n.

In the arrangement of FIG. 15B, the processings of the present inventionmay be decentralized into the host machine (or server) and terminals.The above information pieces for implementing the present invention maybe distributed and stored into the information storage media of the hostmachine (or server) and terminals.

Each of the terminals connected to the communication line may be eitherof home or arcade type. When the arcade game systems are connected tothe communication line, it is desirable that each of the arcade gamesystems includes a portable information storage device (memory card orportable game machine) which can not only transmit the informationbetween the arcade game systems but also transmit the informationbetween the arcade game systems and the home game systems.

The present invention is not limited to the things described inconnection with the above forms, but may be carried out in any ofvarious other forms.

Although the present invention has been described as to the glass plateimaged as an aggregate object, it is not limited to it, but the presentinvention may similarly be applied to any other aggregate object imagedas a wall, water surface, smoke or the like. Furthermore, the presentinvention may be applied to an aggregate object consisting of a group offishes, birds or other animals.

The change of state due to impact may be performed for the shape orcolor of each of the part objects or for the motion of a group offishes, birds or other animals.

Other than the gun-type game, the present invention may similarly beapplied to any of various other games such as other shooting games,fighting games, robot combat games, sports games, competitive games,role-playing games, music playing games, dancing games and so on.

Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to various imagegenerating systems such as arcade game systems, home game systems,large-scaled multi-player attraction systems, simulators, multimediaterminals, image generating systems, game image generating system boardsand so on.

1. An image generating system which generates an image of an aggregateobject formed by a plurality of part objects, the system comprising:object determination means that determines which part objects within apredetermined area in the aggregate object are objects to be changed indisplay form when an impact is applied to the aggregate object, therebysimulating breakage of the aggregate object, where at least one partobject spatially separates and remains separated from the aggregateobject and the impacted position is included within the predeterminedarea; and image generation means which changes at least one of shape,position, rotation angle, direction, moving direction and moving speedof the part objects determined as objects to be changed and generates animage.
 2. The image generating system as defined in claim 1, wherein anarea in which the display form of the part objects is changed isdetermined in accordance with at least one of the magnitude of theimpact, the direction of the impact and the type of the aggregateobject.
 3. The image generating system as defined in claim 1, wherein anarea in which the display form of the part objects is changed israndomly determined.
 4. The image generating system as defined in claim1, further comprising means which changes the display form of the partobjects which are spaced further from the impacted position that changeat a later time than the display form of the part objects closer to theimpacted position.
 5. The image generating system as defined in claim 1,further comprising means which changes the part objects which havealready been changed to a first display form to further change to asecond display form after a given time period has elapsed.
 6. The imagegenerating system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of imagepatterns used to generate images of the part objects after the change bythe impact are previously provided; and wherein the images of the partobjects after the change by the impact are generated based on an imagepattern selected from the plurality of image patterns.
 7. The imagegenerating system as defined in claim 1, wherein the aggregate object isformed by assembling the part objects having different shapes withoutany gaps.
 8. The image generating system as defined in claim 1, whereinan image of the aggregate object is generated as an image of a singleobject before the impact is applied to the aggregate object, and theimage is generated as an image of the aggregate object formed by theplurality of part objects after the impact.
 9. A computer-readableprogram embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier wave,storing information for operating an image generating system whichgenerates an image of an aggregate object formed by a plurality of partobjects, the program comprising information necessary for implementing:object determination means that determines which part objects within apredetermined area in the aggregate object are objects to be changed indisplay form when an impact is applied to the aggregate object, therebysimulating breakage of the aggregate object, where at least one partobject spatially separates and remains separated from the aggregateobject and the impacted position is included within the predeterminedarea; and image generation means which changes at least one of shape,position, rotation angle, direction, moving direction and moving speedof the part objects determined as objects to be changed and generates animage.
 10. The computer-readable program embodied on an informationstorage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 9, furthercomprising information necessary for determining an area in which thedisplay form of the part objects is changed in accordance with at leastone of the magnitude of the impact, the direction of the impact and thetype of the aggregate object.
 11. The computer-readable program embodiedon an information storage medium or in a carrier wave as defined inclaim 9, further comprising information necessary for randomlydetermining an area in which the display form of the part objects ischanged.
 12. The computer-readable program embodied on an informationstorage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 9, furthercomprising information necessary for changing the display form of thepart objects which are spaced more apart from the impacted position withmore delay.
 13. The computer-readable program embodied on an informationstorage medium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 9, furthercomprising information necessary for changing the part objects whichhave already been changed to a first display form into a second displayform after a given time period has elapsed.
 14. The computer-readableprogram embodied on an information storage medium or in a carrier waveas defined in claim 9, further comprising information necessary for:previously providing a plurality of image patterns used to generateimages of the part objects after the change by the impact; andgenerating the images of the part objects after the change by the impactbased on an image pattern selected from the plurality of image patterns.15. The computer-readable program embodied on an information storagemedium or in a carrier wave as defined in claim 9, further comprisinginformation necessary for forming the aggregate object by assembling thepart objects having different shapes without any gaps.
 16. Thecomputer-readable program embodied on an information storage medium orin a carrier wave as defined in claim 9, further comprising informationnecessary for generating an image of the aggregate object as an image ofa single object before the impact is applied to the aggregate object,and for generating the image as an image of the aggregate object formedby the plurality of the part objects after the impact.